Jalen Brunson, Knicks Praised By Fans in Win vs. Magic to Clinch NBA Cup Finals Berth

Jalen Brunson dropped 40 points as the New York Knicks defeated the Orlando Magic 132-120 on Saturday in Las Vegas to clinch a spot in the NBA Cup finals. 

The Knicks will advance to face the winner of the No. 1 Oklahoma City Thunder and No. 3 San Antonio Spurs, with the championship set for Tuesday, Dec. 16 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Brunson added four rebounds and eight assists while shooting 16-of-27 from the field to get to 40 points and setting the tone on both ends. Karl-Anthony Towns added 29 points and eight rebounds, and OG Anunoby chipped in 24 points to spark the win.

Orlando's Paolo Banchero finished with 25 points, three assists and eight rebounds, and Jalen Suggs added 26 points and seven assists before exiting with a sore left hip. He was listed as questionable for the remainder of the game and did not return.

Fans reacted to Brunson and the Knicks advancing to the NBA Cup finals after a strong semifinal win.

The Knicks will make their first NBA Cup championship appearance after falling in the quarterfinals last season to Atlanta and again in the 2023-24 inaugural NBA Cup tournament to Milwaukee.

New York held a seven-point lead at halftime, powered by 25 points from Brunson, while Towns and Anunoby added 12 each. Suggs led Orlando with 25 points at the break, and Banchero added eight.

Orlando battled back in the third quarter to briefly take the lead, but the Knicks responded and rebuilt an eight-point cushion entering the fourth. Brunson, Towns and the Knicks pulled away in the final period to secure the victory and their path to the finals.

New York will await its opponent as the Thunder and Spurs tip off at 9 p.m. ET.